Joe Leaphorn

This character is the protagonist. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is on "terminal leave" from his job of many years from the Navajo Tribal Police. When his leave is finished, Leaphorn will have retired from the police force. Shortly before the novel began, Leaphorn's wife of many years died. He has been feeling the shock and loss ever since, and many believe his decision to retire is a result of his depression over losing his wife. Leaphorn himself says that he is merely tired, that he has difficulty finding police work interesting anymore.

Earlier in his life Leaphorn left the reservation to study anthropology at Arizona State University, and he earned a master's degree. Leaphorn had plans to pursue a doctorate in anthropology, but he met the woman he later married. To be closer to his future wife, Emma, Leaphorn returned to the reservation and joined the police force...